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• Statins: Is this cholesterol- lowering drug right for you? - MayoClinic.com :: statins, statin

  Apercu : Is this cholesterol-lowering drug right for you? Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you? Should you be on a statin? These cholesterol-lowering wonder drugs do have their benefits, but there are also risks. Find out whether your risk factors for heart disease make you a good candidate for statin therapy. Statins, a class of drugs used to lower blood cholesterol, are being touted as one of the wonder drugs of the 21st century. They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. They may also help your body reabsorb cholesterol that has accumulated in plaques on your artery walls, helping prevent further blockage in your blood vessels. Already shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol, statins may have other potential benefits researchers are finding. But doctors are far from knowing everything about statins. Are they right for everybody with high cholesterol? What happens when you take a statin for decades? Can they help prevent other disease? With frequent news reports and studies on statins, making sense of it all can be a challenge. There is a lot to know, but you can begin to put the available information into perspective to help you better determine if statins might be right for you. The cholesterol-lowering effects of statins are well documented. Research shows that these drugs block a substance in your liver needed to make cholesterol. Statins also help your body reabsorb cholesterol that has accumulated on your artery walls. Together, these effects significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Whether you need to be on a statin depends on your cholesterol level along with your other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The decision to start a statin drug depends, in part, on how high your cholesterol is and what your individual cardiovascular risk is over the next 10 years. High cholesterol is only one of a number of risk factors for heart attack and stroke. If the only risk factor you have is high cholesterol, you may not need medication because your risk of heart attack and stroke is probably already low. Lifestyle changes remain the cornerstone for reducing your risk of heart disease, whether you take a statin or not. Quitting smoking, eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, getting daily activity and managing stress are examples of lifestyle changes that will improve cholesterol, and most all of the other risk factors for heart disease. In fact, lifestyle changes may have a greater impact on reducing risk of heart disease and stroke than does medication alone. Does it benefit older adults? You may think that once your cholesterol goes down, you can stop taking medication. If you stop taking it, your cholesterol levels will probably go back up. The exception may be if you make significant changes to your diet or lose a lot of weight. Although statins are well tolerated by most people, they do have side effects, some of which may go away as your body adjusts to the medication. Occasionally, statin use causes an increase in liver enzymes. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. If the increase is severe, you may need to stop taking it, which usually reverses the problem. If left unchecked, increased liver enzymes potentially can cause permanent liver damage. Lopid) and niacin, increase the risk of liver problems even more in people who take statins. Because liver problems may develop without symptoms, people who take statins have their liver function tested periodically. Statins may cause muscle pain and tenderness (statin myopathy). In severe cases, muscle cells can break down (rhabdomyolysis) and release a protein called myoglobin into the bloodstream. Myoglobin can impair kidney function and lead to kidney failure. Certain drugs when taken with statins can increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. If you take statins and have new muscle aching or tenderness, consult with your doctor. Also, check out whether statins interact with any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs or supplements you take. But, some people have other cholesterol traits that may benefit from a different type or combinations of medication. Zetia) to your treatment plan. The risk of muscle problems is higher when these medications are paired, so to combat that risk, the dose of statin is lowered. Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid) supplements in 2- to 4-gram doses also can help. Fibric acids also are useful but less effective than the niacin. In some cases, one medication may simply not be effective and a different drug must be substituted. For other people, lifestyle changes may be all that are needed to lower cholesterol. What else can statins do? Scientists are just beginning to uncover potential new benefits of statins. So far, some studies appear promising, but many results remain unclear. High cholesterol affects all arteries, not just those in the heart. The most immediately promising benefit of statins appears to be their anti-inflammatory properties, which help stabilize the lining of blood vessels. This has potentially far-reaching effects, from the brain and heart, to blood vessels and organs throughout the body. In the heart, stabilizing the blood vessel linings would make plaques less likely to rupture, thereby reducing the chance of a heart attack. Statins also help relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. In addition, statins have blood-thinning effects, reducing the risk of blood clots. For these reasons, doctors are now beginning to prescribe statins before and after coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty, and following certain types of strokes. Prevention of arthritis and bone fractures. Statins reduce inflammation in the body and improve blood flow through smaller blood vessels. These actions seem to have a protective effect on the bones and joints. May 26, 2005, study found that statins significantly reduced the risk of colon cancer by inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells. Statins seem to have a neuroprotective effect. The exact mechanism of this effect is not clear. It may be a direct connection between cholesterol lowering and improved cognitive function. Another theory suggests that statins reduce the occurrence of small, possibly undetected strokes, the damage from which would normally accumulate over time causing dementia. Statins may help protect kidneys, through their effects on cholesterol and blood pressure and perhaps their ability to reduce inflammation. Talk to your doctor about your total risk of cardiovascular disease and discuss how your lifestyle and preferences play a role in your decision about taking medication for high cholesterol. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Statins: Is this cholesterol-lowering drug right for you? - MayoClinic.com
• Cholesterol: The best foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart - MayoClinic.com :: lowering cholesterol, lower cholesterol

  Apercu : Find out the best foods to reduce your cholesterol and protect your heart. Can a bowl of oatmeal help prevent a heart attack? How about a handful of walnuts, or even your baked potato dressed in sterol-fortified margarine? A few simple tweaks to your diet like these may be enough to stave off a cholesterol problem. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, brussels sprouts, apples, pears, psyllium, barley and prunes. Soluble fiber appears to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in your intestines. Gel-like soluble fiber binds bile (which contains cholesterol) and dietary cholesterol so that the body excretes it. To mix it up a little, try oat bran or cold cereal made with oatmeal or oat bran. Studies have shown that walnuts can significantly reduce blood cholesterol. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, walnuts also help keep blood vessels healthy and elastic. Almonds appear to have a similar effect, resulting in a marked improvement within just four weeks. For a 1,200-calorie per day diet, a little less than 1/3 of a cup of walnuts is about 240 calories, or 20 percent of the total calories for the day. All nuts are high in calories, however, so a handful will suffice. As with any food, good or bad, eating too much can cause weight gain, and being overweight places you at higher risk of heart disease. To avoid gaining weight, replace foods high in saturated fat with nuts. For example, instead of using cheese, luncheon meat or croutons in your salad, add a handful of walnuts or almonds. Greenland at the same time. Eskimos ate less saturated fat and more omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and whale and seal meat. Research since that time has supported the heart-healthy benefits of eating fish. Eskimos, other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and soybean oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are noted for their triglyceride-lowering effect, but they also help the heart in other ways such as reducing blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. In people who have already had heart attacks, fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduces the risk of sudden death. Doctors recommend eating at least two servings of fish a week. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon. However, to maintain the heart-healthy benefits of fish, bake or grill it. Is ground or whole better? Foods are now available that have been fortified with sterols or stanols substances found in plants that help block the absorption of cholesterol. The amount of daily plant sterols needed for results is at least 2 grams which equals about two 8-ounce servings of plant sterol-fortified orange juice a day. Committee showed soy protein actually has very little impact on reducing cholesterol levels. Association issued a statement saying the cardiovascular health benefits of soy protein are minimal at best. Though it may not lower your cholesterol, soy does contain vitamins and minerals and is a good source of fiber. The first step for a heart-healthy diet is to reduce your intake of bad fats especially saturated and trans fats. If you need more boost from your foods, try adding foods fortified with plant sterols. Eating a combination of these cholesterol-lowering foods increases the benefit. But dietary changes alone are not always enough for everyone. Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you? Is your diet hurting your heart? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Cholesterol: The best foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart - MayoClinic.com
• Acetaminophen: Watch dosage for children - MayoClinic.com :: acetaminophen

  Apercu : Acetaminophen overdoses are serious, and they can occur all too easily. Tylenol, others) has long been the standard remedy for fever and pain in children. But even good things, in excess, can be harmful. How do acetaminophen overdoses occur? Acetaminophen overdoses are serious, and they can occur all too easily. If your child has various cold symptoms, you might combine acetaminophen with a cold remedy. But this can be dangerous because many cold medications already contain acetaminophen. You use the wrong formulation. For example, infant drops are three times as concentrated as the elixir or syrup typically given to toddlers. If you assume that both liquids contain the same amount of medicine, substituting infant drops for syrup could result in a dose of acetaminophen three times what it should be. You decide that more is better. Your child mistakes the medication for candy or juice. Overdoses also can occur when children, particularly toddlers, discover the medicine on their own and mistake it for something safe to eat or drink. How much acetaminophen is too much? An acetaminophen overdose can lead to life-threatening liver and kidney problems. Many factors determine how severely a particular dose of acetaminophen can damage the liver. For example, children younger than age 5 seem to be less susceptible to liver damage than are older children and adults. That equals about 1,360 mg for a child who weighs 20 pounds or 2,040 mg for a child who weighs 30 pounds. For perspective, adults may take 325 mg or 500 mg of acetaminophen every three or four hours as needed, up to 4,000 mg in 24 hours. How is an acetaminophen overdose treated? In the emergency room, a child with an acetaminophen overdose may be given activated charcoal to decrease absorption of the acetaminophen. Activated charcoal is usually given as a black liquid drink, but it can be given through a tube inserted through the mouth or nose and into the stomach if necessary. If the overdose is severe, the child may need an antidote to reverse the effects of the acetaminophen. The antidote should be given within eight to 10 hours after the acetaminophen is ingested. Left untreated, a serious acetaminophen overdose may be fatal within a few days. But careful use of acetaminophen and prompt treatment in case of emergency can help prevent a tragedy. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Acetaminophen: Watch dosage for children - MayoClinic.com
• HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol - MayoClinic.com :: good cholesterol

  Apercu : Your cholesterol levels are an important measure of heart health. Cholesterol is carried through your blood attached to proteins. The cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Cholesterol buildup forms plaques that make arteries hard and narrow ultimately increasing the risk of coronary artery disease. But both men and women can benefit from increasing those averages. To increase your odds of success, you might want to try more than one strategy at a time. For example, combine medication to reduce nicotine cravings with a support group or individual counseling. Talk with your doctor about your options for quitting. To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem. Try to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week. Better yet, exercise every day. Take a brisk daily walk. In a heart-healthy diet, up to 25 percent to 35 percent of your total daily calories can come from fat but saturated fat should account for less than 7 percent of your total daily calories. This includes many margarines, most commercial baked products and anything that contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Monounsaturated fat found in olive, peanut and canola oils is a healthier option. Nuts, fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids are other good choices. Drink alcohol only in moderation. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and one to two drinks a day for men. If your doctor prescribes medication to help control your cholesterol, take it as directed while you continue to focus on a healthy lifestyle. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol - MayoClinic.com
• Cholesterol levels: What numbers should you aim for? - MayoClinic.com :: ldl level

  Apercu : What numbers should you aim for? What numbers should you aim for? People at high risk of heart disease may need even lower targets for their cholesterol numbers than other adults do. But what are the optimal levels of these various lipids? Eating more soluble fiber and less saturated fat and cholesterol can improve your cholesterol levels. Exercise and weight loss can help reverse this trend. This is especially important for people who have large waist measurements more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women because people with this body shape are more likely to develop heart disease. Is your diet hurting your heart? These drugs are not a replacement for lifestyle changes. High cholesterol has no symptoms, but your genetic makeup reflected in family history of high cholesterol or heart disease might make you more prone to the condition, even if you eat right and exercise. Can it be too low? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Cholesterol levels: What numbers should you aim for? - MayoClinic.com
• Rhabdomyolysis from statin use: What are the symptoms? - MayoClinic.com :: rhabdomyolysis

  Apercu : How do you know if you have rhabdomyolysis from statin use? Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect of statins. At high doses, statin medications can impair production of certain proteins involved in muscle metabolism and function. This may result in muscle pain and tenderness (statin myopathy). Muscle aching usually goes away within a couple of weeks after stopping the statin drug. In severe cases, statins may cause muscle cells to break down (rhabdomyolysis). If you have signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, stop taking the medication immediately and seek medical treatment without delay. The risk of rhabdomyolysis increases with the dose of statins. In addition, certain drugs when taken in combination with statins increase the risk rhabdomyolysis. Niacin at doses greater than 1. Can they cause memory loss? Can it prevent statin side effects? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Rhabdomyolysis from statin use: What are the symptoms? - MayoClinic.com
• Cholesterol level: Can it be too low? - MayoClinic.com :: low cholesterol

  Apercu : Can it be too low? Can it be too low? Can your cholesterol level be too low? A high blood cholesterol level puts you at increased risk of coronary artery disease. So lower is usually better but not always. Some research suggests that very low cholesterol levels may be associated with an increased risk of death in people with cancer. However, there is no evidence that a low cholesterol level causes cancer. Low cholesterol levels may also be associated with depression and anxiety. Some scientists believe that very low cholesterol may reduce serotonin levels in the brain. It depends on the individual. If you have questions about your cholesterol levels, consult your doctor. He or she can explain what cholesterol levels are appropriate in your specific situation. What numbers should you aim for? What numbers should you aim for? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Cholesterol level: Can it be too low? - MayoClinic.com
• Home cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate? - MayoClinic.com :: test cholesterol

  Apercu : Are home cholesterol test kits helpful in managing high cholesterol? Home cholesterol test kits are not reliable or consistent enough to be useful in managing your cholesterol. Several cholesterol test kits are available. Most measure only total cholesterol. High blood cholesterol plays a major role in coronary artery disease and stroke. So, it is important to know your cholesterol level. However, even when cholesterol testing is performed by trained professionals in a lab, there is significant variability in the results. Also, cholesterol management requires more than measuring total cholesterol. Before using a home cholesterol test kit, consult your doctor. Although home testing may seem faster and easier, it does not provide any benefit if it produces inaccurate results. Can it be too low? What numbers should you aim for? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Home cholesterol test kits: Are they accurate? - MayoClinic.com
• High blood cholesterol - MayoClinic.com :: high cholesterol

  Apercu : Cholesterol is found in every cell in your body. This fat-like substance is an important component of cell membranes and a building block in the formation of some hormones. But your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Eventually, these deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Your heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to your brain can cause a stroke. High blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) is largely preventable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir High blood cholesterol - MayoClinic.com
• Pulmonary hypertension - MayoClinic.com :: pulmonary hypertension

  Apercu : A far less common type of high blood pressure affects only the arteries in the lungs. For some people, pulmonary hypertension eventually proves fatal. Pulmonary hypertension begins when tiny arteries in your lungs become narrow or blocked. This causes increased resistance to the flow of blood in the lungs, which in turn raises pressure within the pulmonary arteries. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir Pulmonary hypertension - MayoClinic.com
• VLDL cholesterol: What is it? - MayoClinic.com :: cholesterol vldl

  Apercu : Should it be high or low? Each type contains a specific combination of cholesterol, protein and triglyceride, a blood fat. So it is usually calculated as a percentage of triglyceride levels. What numbers should you aim for? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

  Voir VLDL cholesterol: What is it? - MayoClinic.com
• Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living - MayoClinic.com :: cholesterol medication

  Apercu : Are these cholesterol-lowering drugs right for you? Can it prevent statin side effects? Can they cause memory loss?

  Voir Mayo Clinic medical information and tools for healthy living - MayoClinic.com